Polk, Scott Counties See Damage From Thursday Flooding

Heavy rain and flooding swept through parts of western Arkansas Thursday night, causing some damage in Polk and Scott counties.

Heavy rain and flooding swept through parts of western Arkansas Thursday night, causing some damage in Polk and Scott counties.

Severe flooding in Polk County prompted emergency crews to perform numerous water rescues from people in vehicles stranded in water, but Polk County Emergency Management Director James Reeves said no injuries or deaths were reported.

Joe Goudsward of the National Weather Service in Little Rock said Polk County received the most significant portion of the Thursday rainfall, with the highest amount recorded at 7.3 inches in Mena.

The water rose rapidly in a matter of hours, with more than 1 1/3 inches of rain recorded in Mena in under a half-hour, prompting the weather service to issue a flash flood warning for the area.

Reeves said the county had reports of water reaching into homes and businesses.

Reeves said the county did not lose any bridges or major roadways, but the county saw significant surface damage and one-lane road closures.

Reeves said although most roads were passable with a second outlet, he encouraged drivers to use caution while out on the roadways.

Scott County Judge James Forbes said he and his road crews were assessing damages from the storm Friday, and reported they are working to repair minor damages on some secondary roads and low-water bridges throughout the county.

Forbes said he had no reported damage to the homes or businesses in the county.

Scott County saw 3-6 inches of rainfall Thursday, Goudsward said.

The area could see a brief reprieve this weekend, Goudsward said, with some redevelopment of some unsettled showers Saturday and Sunday, but said another storm system with the potential threat of heavy rains could develop Monday along the southeastern Oklahoma border and into Polk and Scott counties.